He was sitting down when the comm unit flashed. Michael glanced at it, then froze. It took him a couple seconds to answer. "Admiral Hackett." He swallowed. "I, uh..."

"Shepard." Hackett nodded to him. "We just received a distress signal. Geth attacked a transport vessel. Your ship is closest."

Michael stared at the screen for a moment. Then he nodded. "Transmit the coordinates. I'll take care of it, sir."

"Sending coordinates now. Hackett out."

For half a heartbeat, he continued starring at the screen. Then he shrugged. "Joker, set course for the coordinates we just received."

#

"Chambers said you're tearing up the place." Michael watched Grunt pace through the room. "Something wrong?"

"Something..." Grunt growled. "Is wrong, Shepard. I feel wrong. Tense. I just want to kill something. With my hands." He shook himself. "More so than usual, like it's not my choice. Like I just want to, I don't know..." He shook his head, then headbutted the viewport hard enough to put cracks in the material. Michael found himself grateful he'd chosen to hit the interior one. Grunt walked back toward him. "See? Why do that? What's wrong?"

"I will not tolerate outbursts on my ship." Michael narrowed his eyes. "Get a hold of yourself."

"I'm trying." Grunt gave him a frustrated look. "When we're moving, fighting, there's no problem. But here, my blood makes noise. It's screaming." He took a deep breath. "I've got no past to lead me. The tank gave me nothing about itching plates and losing control."

He considered ordering Grunt to Doctor Chakwas, but if she could help she'd have already poked her head in. "Don't know if I can help, Grunt. Sounds like we need one of your kind to look into this." They weren't that far from Tuchanka, thanks to the mission Hackett had given him. He was still trying to figure that out.

"Most offworld krogan are warriors. Doctors don't leave the homeworld. Tuchanka." Grunt looked down. "I won't ask you to go there. I will control this."

"Joker can get us to the krogan homeworld." Michael nodded to Grunt. "I need everyone at their best."

"Thank you, Shepard. I don't like this. Fury is my choice, not a sickness."

#

He headed in to see if Mordin had any insight, only to find the professor agitated. More than usual. Apparently one of his former students had been taken prisoner on Tuchanka. Great. After all, it was such a charming place to visit.

#

"Why is it people point guns at us everywhere we go?" Garrus clicked his mandibles.

"Maybe they've heard of us?" Michael shrugged.

"Frankly just about anything we do to this place would be an improvement." Jacob looked around them.

"It strikes me that may not be the kind of thing you should say to Shepard." Samara glanced at Jacob. "I believe he would take the statement as a challenge."

"I..." Michael turned toward her, then sighed and nodded. "Okay, maybe you've got a point there." He turned back and started walking toward the group of krogan pointing guns at them.

"The clan leader wants to speak with you." The krogan narrowed his eyes at Michael. Then he gave a disproving look when Grunt moved up to Michael's flank. "Keep your rutting pet on a short leash. Get him the Rite soon, or put him down."

"So noted." Michael rolled his eyes. "Let me by. I have business to take care of."

The krogan got out of his way. And Asari thought they were the smartest species in the galaxy...

#

"Halt. You must wait till the clan leader summons you. He is in..." A krogan interposed himself between Shepard and the dais. "In talks."

For a moment, Garrus thought Shepard was going to go ahead and push his way past, and began choosing targets. But Shepard simply took up an impatient stance and prepared to wait. Garrus mirrored his stance, trying to ignore the fact that he was a turian on the krogan homeworld.

Ahead, the krogan were arguing. As krogan did. Garrus resigned himself to waiting, and then started at the sound of a familiar voice. The krogan chieftain was standing. "Shepard."

Shepard raised an eyebrow at the guard. "Good enough?" He casually waved the guard out of the way and headed up to greet...

Wrex?

#

"Shepard! My friend!" Wrex grabbed his arm and shook it. It occurred to him that two years ago, the act would probably have resulted in the arm being torn off. "You look well for dead, Shepard. Should have known the void couldn't hold you."

"Looks like helping me destroy Saren and the geth has worked out for you." Michael gave a small shake of his head. "Glad we didn't have to kill each other on Virmire."

"Ha. You made the rise of Urdnot possible. Virmire was a turning point for the krogan, though not everyone was happy about it." Wrex glanced at the other clan lord, who proceeded to prove Wrex's point for him. Wrex headbutted the guy, nearly knocking him to the ground. "Speak when spoken to, Uvenk. I'll drag your clan to glory whether it likes it or not." Wrex returned to his concrete throne. "Now, Shepard. What brings you here? How's the Normandy?"

"The Normandy died more permanently than I did. I'm back, fighting the odds." He nodded to Wrex. "Maybe you can help."

"We don't often allow aliens to do business on Tuchanka, but you're an exception."

"So I didn't learn my lesson the first time..." Michael shrugged. "I have a krogan on my crew. He has some kind of sickness and needs treatment." Grunt walked toward them.

Wrex gave Grunt an appraising look. "Where are you from, whelp? Was your clan destroyed before you could learn what is expected of you?"

"I have no clan." Grunt straightened. "I was tank-bred by Warlord Okeer, my line distilled from Kredak, Moro, Shiagur -"

The krogan, Uvenk, walked a circle around Grunt before sneering. "You recite warlords, but you are the offspring of a syringe."

Michael held back, letting Grunt handle it. Grunt spread his hands. "I am pure krogan. You should be in awe." Yeah, the kid really was starting to grow on him."

"Okeer is a very old name." Wrex leaned forward. "A very hated name."

"He is dead." Grunt shrugged.

"Of course." Wrex glanced at Michael before turning back to Grunt. "You're with Shepard. How could he be alive?"

Hey now. That wasn't... Okay, maybe that was a fair point. "Does that name mean anything to you, Wrex?"

"A vicious warlord responsible for many deaths. Who apparently toyed with genetics." Wrex gave Grunt a contemplative look. "A clone undertaking the Rite...?"

"You are considering it?" Uvenk glared. "Tank-bred allowed status as an adult? This is too far."

"There is nothing wrong with him." Wrex ignored Uvenk, turning back to Michael. "He is becoming a full adult."

Oh for fuck's... Garrus beat him to it. "Adolescence? Can't we just take him to Omega and buy him a few dances?"

"I don't care what aliens call it." Wrex waved a hand. "Krogan undergo the Rite of Passage."

"Too far, Wrex!" Uvenk strode forward. "Your clan may rule, but this thing is not krogan." He stormed past them and off the dais. Michael heroically refrained from tripping him as he went past.

"Idiot." Wrex calmly shrugged before turning back to them. "So, Grunt? Do you wish to stand with Urdnot?"

Grunt shot Michael a look. Michael gave him a nod. "This is his choice."

The young krogan turned, looking out over the scene. A rubble filled war camp on a damage planet. Then he turned back, and nodded to Wrex. "It is in my blood. It is what I am for."

#

Kaidan hit the button on the console and nodded when Liara appeared on the screen. "Liara, is everything alright?"

"I just got a call from Wrex and Tali..." Liara shook her head. "Apparently, Shepard paid a visit to Tuchunka."

"Why was he on Tuchunka?" Kaidan blinked.

"You..." Liara took a deep breath. "You might want to sit down for this..."

#

Tali demurred going with them to the shaman, and stayed behind to catch up with Wrex. For all Wrex was acting gruff, he couldn't quite hide how pleased he was at her presence, and began pointing out various features of the space port to her. Garrus looked a bit reluctant to leave her, but followed when Michael gestured at him again.

Uvenk had beaten them there, and was already arguing with the shaman. The shaman wasn't having it. "They know blood, no matter the womb. Your barking does not help your case."

"I'll speak for myself." Grunt stepped forward.

The shaman walked over to him. "This is the tank-bred? It is very lifelike. Smells correct as well." He glanced over his shoulder. "Your protests ring hollow, Uvenk."

"I don't care what this idiot says, Grunt has the right to be here." Michael stepped to Grunt's shoulder.

"There's some fire -" The shaman looked amused. "And from a alien. Oh, the shame this heaps on those who whine like pups."

"If this must stand on ritual, then I invoke a denial." Uvenk glared at Michael. "My krantt stands against him. He has no one."

"My patience is tested, but Uvenk invokes correctly." The shaman shook his head at Uvenk before looking back to Grunt. "Grunt, who is your krantt? Your allies willing to kill and die on your behalf?"

Well, they were up. Michael squared his shoulders. "Grunt will strengthen Clan Urdnot. Name our target, and it will die."

"Spoken well." The shaman smiled. "Most aliens - and some krogan - do not understand our ways. I believe this human does."

"Aliens don't know strength. My followers are -" Uvenk was talking again. Michael sighed, then stepped forward and headbutted the warlord. The krogan staggered backward, startled. "You..." He looked up at Michael. "You dare?"

His crew were staring at him like he was insane, and his head now hurt. Worth it. The shaman was laughing his ass off. "I like this human. He understands."

"I withdraw my denial." Uvenk glared again before stalking off. "This will be decided elsewhere." He tried shoving Michael out of the way as he walked past.

"You have provoked them. Reason enough for me to like you." The shaman shrugged. "They're your problem now."

Oh joy. "Alright." Michael took a deep breath. "Tell us how this works." If it involved krogan dancing girls, he was going to have to kill everyone.

#

"So we stand out here, and shoot any monster that comes out?" Garrus looked around. They'd only been able to bring a few in the transport. Shepard had left Samara in charge, which had irritated Miranda. He suspected that had been the point.

"Yep." Shepard nodded.

"That seems strange." Garrus frowned.

"That's not how they do it on Palavan?" Shepard raised an eyebrow. "No wonder you turians are such wusses."

"EDI..." Garrus tapped his communicator. "You're keeping score, right?"

"Yes, Garrus." EDI's voice came back over.

Garrus checked his ammo load. "It's on, Shepard."

"Isn't this supposed to be about Grunt?" Jack was smirking.

"EDI, keep score for Jack and Grunt too." Shepard shrugged. "Loser, also known as Garrus Vakarian, is buying the drinks when we are done."

Grunt slammed a fist into his palm before pulling out his shotgun. "Here they come."

#

"He headbutted a what?" Kaidan stared at the screen.

"A krogan chieftain." Liara pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Are you sure Tali wasn't just messing with you?"

"Kaidan..."

"No, no, I believe it." Kaidan shook his head. "Did Wrex say why?"

"Something about a krogan puberty rite."

"Oh god." Kaidan's eyes widened. "Michael's secretly a krogan. Why does that not surprise me?"

"Kaidan." Liara started to raise a finger, then frowned. "Actually, in retrospect that would seem to be a logical explanation."

"What else did they tell you?" Kaidan raised an eyebrow.

#

"So all we need to do now is stand out here for five minutes while a thresher maw spits at us?" Garrus shook his head. "Easy enough." A slight chill ran through him when he saw Grunt and Shepard exchange looks.

Then both of them pulled out their heavy weapons. He exchanged a look with Jack, who was smiling. "Alright then." He reached for a grenade.

#

Michael just sighed as he watched Uvenk make a further ass of himself. He was amused to learn the last person to bring down a thresher maw had been Wrex himself. Yeah, he was probably going to hear about that later. "Come on, Uvenk." Michael jerked a head at Grunt. "You want to try killing him, give it your best shot."

"Not yet." There was a gleam in the warlord's eyes. "This deserves consideration."

"Why?" Grunt shrugged. "I'm not getting any more natural." They'd been a bad influence on that krogan.

"You are powerful." Uvenk began pacing. "You are a mistake, but your potential could tip the current balance of the clans."

"You spit on my father's name!" Grunt took a step forward. "On Shepard's name! But now you stop ranting because I'm strong?"

And Uvenk proved he really was too stupid to know when to shut up. "With restrictions. You could not breed, of course. Or serve on an alien ship. But you'd be clan in name." Oh, look, he'd brought backup. Because of course he did.

"If I know Grunt, your answer's coming at muzzle velocity." Michael shrugged.

Grunt turned toward him, smile wide. "You do know Grunt." He yanked out his shotgun. "This varren is dead."

#

"It still only counts as one."

"It was a thresher maw, Garrus."

"Yes. One thresher maw."

"It was a thresher maw, and I got the kill shot." Michael glared. "You lost."

"How did I lose, I got two more than Jack." Garrus shook his head.

"She got the big flying one. Those count for three points."

"Says who?"

"Says the psychotic biotic."

"I..." Garrus blinked. "Does she know you call her the psychotic biotic?"

"Hey, Jack!" Michael glanced over his shoulder. "Mind if I call you the psychotic biotic?"

"The what?" Jack blinked.

"See, it's fine." Michael nodded. "Drinks. On you. I'll spring for the dancing girls."

"Wait, dancing girls?" Garrus clicked his mandibles.

"Sure." Michael whacked Grunt on the back. "Our little krogan is all grown up and taking down warlords."

"Heh." Grunt smiled.

"I seriously am starting to question your parenting skills." Garrus sighed and rubbed his forehead.

#

The shaman met them at the gate. "You have passed the Rite of Passage, earning the honor of clan and name." He smiled. "Many survive, but it has been years since a thresher maw fell. Your names shall live in glory." He spread his hands. "Grunt, you are Urdnot. You may now own property, join the army, and apply to serve under a battlemaster."

"Shepard is my battlemaster." Grunt's voice was fierce. "He has no match." Well... damned if he wasn't just a little bit touched by that.

"Understood. Congratulations, Urdnot Grunt. Accept this token from Fortack. His weapons are the finest we have.

#

"He did what?" Hackett stared across the table at him.

"I didn't believe it either, sir, but apparently Wrex sent Liara a vid." Kaidan rubbed his forehead.

"Michael Shepard..." Hackett narrowed his eyes. "Killed a thresher maw..." He tilted his head. "On foot?"

"Yes." It suddenly occurred to Kaidan that Michael had been getting in the boxing ring with Hackett for the past dozen years. And had apparently lost every time. He straightened just a little and belatedly added, "Sir."

#

"Urdnot clan reports use weak encryption. I see references to a captured salarian in the logs of the chief scout." EDI's voice came over the communicator as they headed back in. "In addition, killing the thresher maw has produced several breeding requests for Grunt. And one for Shepard."

"Ha!" Grunt's voice came from behind him.

Michael immediately turned. "Not a word, Vakarian."

Garrus's mandibles clicked as an expression of pure evil came over his face.